The investigation into the crash of a South Korea passenger jet gathered pace on Wednesday as bereaved families began to prepare funerals after authorities finished formally identifying the 179 victims of the country's worst air disaster.

U.S. investigators could be seen Tuesday moving around the crash site in South Korea following the deadly crash of a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800.

Eight U.S. investigators are to join a probe into the Muan plane disaster which killed 179 out of 181 on board.